[gme]

This

Surely this is a no brainer...... A Northern Soul boulder, Hepburn.

Another vote for this one. Would be a gem in middle of font.

[petejh]

Seeing as NI is 1/4 of the UK I'd go for one of the Fairhead boulders. Boombastic or Eat It?

[Wellsy]

Langdale Boulders, both of em

[Moo]

Gotta be northern soul boulder. Every problem on there is 5 stars.

[dunnyg]

One of the boulders at St bees has got to be on the list, but my memory is too hazy  to name a boulder. Aesthetics, situation, and so many good moves.

Think my vote would be the bowderstone of the places I've visited so far.
A lot of the climbing on the calf is too uncomfy for a best of. I could love with the virgin boulder.

[haydn jones]

100% bowderstone

Perfect landing, good height, okish spread of grades (could do with several more 6's/low 7's), and the sheer number of boulders and linkups to get at is staggering.

[SA Chris]

Hmm. It's basically an outdoor kilterboard.

[tim palmer]

Hmm. It's basically an outdoor kilterboard.

I hope you aren't suggesting that is a bad thing.

[Duma]

Good god the fucking bowderstone?! You may as well nominate the left hand upstairs boulder at TCA.

If grimers suggestion of having them all in one place was true the bowderstone would be the one at the back that everyone took a shit under.

[SA Chris]

Hmm. It's basically an outdoor kilterboard.

I hope you aren't suggesting that is a bad thing.

Might be your poison, but it's not mine. Duma sums it up better.

I have a soft spot for the John Peel Memorial Boulder in Glen Clova. Mainly because the first new probs I did in Scotland are on it, but it's a good block, variety of angles, and some hard recent additions from Max Milne. Amazing views in all directions too. Lacks a bit of height maybe.

[remus]

Good god the fucking bowderstone?! You may as well nominate the left hand upstairs boulder at TCA.

If grimers suggestion of having them all in one place was true the bowderstone would be the one at the back that everyone took a shit under.

Depends a bit on your interpretation of the question I think. If we're talking desert island boulder then the bowderstone is a pretty practical option, and it is a pretty rad piece of rock. It's definitely not the prettiest though, and I wouldn't say any of the problems individually are stand out lines.

If we're talking pure quality of the individual lines then something like Northern Soul boulder is going to be hard to beat.

[Fiend]

Good god the fucking bowderstone?! You may as well nominate the left hand upstairs boulder at TCA.

If grimers suggestion of having them all in one place was true the bowderstone would be the one at the back that everyone took a shit under.

Northern Soul is a lump of crag, it's only got two facets exposed.

[T_B]

There’s only one boulder that attracts 18.1 million visitors per year and is so big it has a ladder installed. I can’t think of a more impressive boulder in the British Isles and it’s got loads of climbing on it.

A couple of other comments. NTBTA is not a very good problem. Reachy lurchy first move. Even more overrated is Malcs Arête. Both look good in photos but don’t actually climb very nicely.

[Wellsy]

If the Bowderstone was in your garden you'd get mega strong at least

[GazM]

Horses for courses. I agree NTBTA looks good but isnt great to climb but disagree about Malc's - flowy moves on comfy holds and culminating in a big satisfying heartbreaker move with a perfect flat landing.

[Will Hunt]

I'm struggling to remember and I haven't got the guide on me. Is the Groove Armada boulder mentioned upthread the same bit of rock with Underground Butler and Warstarter on it? If so that's a very strong contender.

[Duma]

I've not been, but the ship boulder (Malcs) has got to be up there? Amazing looking, great quality rock, beautiful situation, lots of problems, grades 5 to 8B+, shit loads of stars - including at least a couple of total classics.

[Fultonius]

This thread has just highlighted that we really need a top 3 in each country, plus one at fair head?

UKs too bug, and most people don't travel enough to get a fair representation.

I felt the Bowderstone was similar to any of the big boulders at Dumby, but it somewhat lacked obvious and striking lines.

It's a total shocker that I've never made it to ship boulder. Hoping for a dry spell this spring and I'll get up there.

[SA Chris]

It's a total shocker that I've never made it to ship boulder. Hoping for a dry spell this spring and I'll get up there.

Been a long time since i was there too, let's make a plan.

[andy popp]

I'm not saying it's an actual contender (it clearly isn't) but I always thought Utopia in the pass was amazing and would be very hard to beat at that grade level.

[carlisle slapper]

                                      rock quality.  grade spread. Situation. Training potential. good lines.
Bowderstone.                    2/5                 4/5                  4/5               5/5                   2/5
Ship                                   5/5                 3/5                  5/5               2/5                   5/5
Leaping Stone                   4/5                 4/5                  4/5               3/5                   4.5/5

My top 3 uk. All still have at least 1 decent proj left on. I would probs pick the bowderstone for the back garden as it'd wind the neighbours up the most and i could sand blast it regularly.
Honorable mentions to Caseg boulder (NW). Spindle boulder (FH) Barry (NYM) Great Flake (Y) Loch Katrine (Scot)

[SA Chris]

Which Block at Loch Katrine? I thought there were a few.

[bolehillbilly]

Which Block at Loch Katrine? I thought there were a few.

Assume it's the one at Glengyle on the north side of Loch Katrine. Can't find many details other than a mention in the 2010 Stone Country blog and a link to the SMC page which matches the details on UKC.
Randomly I cycled past this today and scoped out the approach. Undecided about riding back with a pad so would be good to find out more.

[Bradders]

                                     
Leaping Stone                   

I thought this was the Drake Stone but it isn't is it?

In which case, what /where is it?! Pics? I thought my knowledge of big blocks was pretty good but I genuinely don't know where this is.

[andy moles]

                               
Leaping Stone                 

Where is?